Can't Hide

Chapter 13: Darkness

Trapped and numb.

Alexis was ensnared in her own senses - her own mind.

She could feel herself opening her eyes. But yet, at the same time, she couldn't feel her herself opening her eyes. It was as if they were moving on their own accord.

She felt like she'd lost all track of time. Her surroundings…she was still on in the duel arena; still sprawled out on its cold, tiled floor.

And…she couldn't remember anything.

No.

No, she could remember a little. She remembered people. Faces. And names associated with said faces.

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty."

Her head snapped up.

Dark-Wing's smile was devious and held promises of vice to come as he crouched down next to her.

"How are we feeling now?" He sounded anything but concerned.

"Fine," Alexis answered monotonously.

But for some reason, it felt out of her control.

Dark-Wing smirked, noticing the slight turmoil behind her brilliant brown eyes. "You in there, Alexis?"

Alexis stared back at him blankly. What was he talking about?

The Shadow Rider chuckled sardonically. He was pleased.

The look on Alexis' face - it was one that could not be replaced. Her eyes. Her eyes said it all. They were no longer the bright, clear brown they once were. Now, they were dark. Murky. Nearly black. And completely and utterly dull.

Like there was no life behind them. No soul.

"I think it's about time we returned you to your friends," his lips twitched. "For a little visit."

"My friends?" she echoed. "A visit?"

What friends? She didn't have friends. What was Dark-Wing talking about?

Dark-Wing nodded solemnly, standing up. "Yes," he said. "You see, we have an agenda to keep, Alexis. And you play a very important role in it."

He held out his hand to her.

She stared at it. The slightest bit of hesitation in her gaze. A shudder went through her hand as she reached from his. It was almost as if it protested. But she ignored it.

This was Dark-Wing, after all. He had only the best intentions for her. Darkness practically radiated off of him. And she was drawn to it.

"There now," he let go of her hand easily. "You and Truesdale have a job to do."

Truesdale.

The name brought an unfamiliar feeling to the pit of her stomach. And her chest. Something ached in her chest at his name.

She knew him. Truesdale.

Was he one of the friends the Dark-Wing spoke of?

The confused look on Alexis' face did not go unnoticed by Dark-Wing.

He smiled unabashedly. "You are one of us now, dear. And a very strong asset to our group. You and Truesdale. Him more, possibly. But that doesn't matter. You will be the means to our conquest."

Alexis nodded, ignoring the nagging and alien sensation in the back of her mind. The Shadow Riders. She was one of them now. And she would help them. She would help them spread the darkness.

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

Jaden disregarded the beads of sweat collecting at his eyebrow as focused on Att-no-Nightshroud.

"Remember, Jaden. Atticus needs to win," Syrus called out.

"I think he knows that already, shrimp," Chazz gritted through his teeth.

Jaden's life points were down to 900 points, and Atticus' were still at 1700.

Nightshroud was determined to win, Jaden could tell.

Man, talk about drama,' Jaden thought forlornly.

"It's your move, Jaden," Nightshroud goaded. "Better make it quick. Although, it looks like there's not much you can do, anyway."

Annoyed, the Slifer drew a card from his deck. It was the Fusion spell card, but it would be of no use to him this turn. He needed to draw another card. Specifically, another Elemental Hero.

Nightshroud was right. There really wasn't much he could do. He had a handful of spell and trap cards, and only one monster on the field.

"I put two cards facedown," Jaden announced grudgingly. "Your turn, Atty."

The nickname clearly struck a chord with Nightshroud. Alexis was the only one who called him that.

He clenched his fists in an attempt to control the overwhelming rush of emotions and memories.

Alexis.

She was the reason he was doing all this.

"I draw, then," Nightshroud pulled a card from his deck.

Jaden watched him in anticipation, thoughts running through his head a mile a minute.

There was one way Nightshroud would be able to win this.

What if Jaden forfeited the game? Granted, he'd never done such a thing before. More specifically, such a thing normally never crossed his mind in all the duels he'd taken place in. It just wasn't in his nature.

But now…

This wasn't a real duel. If anything, this duel was just a cover up. Atticus needed to win to get to Alexis.

And if it meant saving his friends, then Jaden was willing to 'lose' a few duels.

"I place a two cards facedown as well," Nightshroud declared. "Red Eyes Black Dragon, attack his Elemental!"

Jaden stood unmoving as he watched the only monster he had in his field become shattered to pieces.

His life points dropped to 400.

"What's wrong with Jaden?" Chazz muttered, watching the Slifer recover from the blow. "It's like he's not even putting up a fight."

"That's because he's not," Bastion confirmed.

"But that's not like Jaden at all!" Syrus was worried. "He's just letting Atti - er, Nightshroud, win."

It suddenly dawned on Bastion. "That's it. He's letting Nightshroud win."

"He wouldn't," Chazz argued, in disbelief. "This is Jaden we're talking about."

"If his friends' lives are on the line, I hardly think he cares about winning," Bastion countered.

Chazz could not tolerate the idea. "Well, why doesn't he just make it easier on the rest of us and forfeit then?"

Bastion and Syrus glared at him.

"I forfeit."

Everyone froze.

Jaden's announcement hung heavily in the air.

"What!?" Chazz nearly shrieked, his tenor going up an octave.

"You jinxed him!" Syrus cried out, eyes wide with alarm, pointing an accusing finger at Chazz.

"No, I didn't!" Chazz bolstered.

"Would you two shut up!" Bastion interrupted.

Nightshroud ignored the three of them and their antics. His focus was solely on his opponent, in particular, in his opponent's proclamation.

And he wasn't having any of it. "You forfeit?" he mocked, angry. "You can't forfeit. I'm so close to beating you."

Jaden shook his head. "Are you more concerned with beating me, or getting back your sister?"

That struck a nerve.

"Fine," Nightshroud growled.

Both duelists' life points dropped to zero.

Nightshroud had won.

"Oh, man, this better work," Syrus said anxiously. "What happens now?"

All eyes were on Nightshroud.

"Now, I find my sister and my best friend," Nightshroud answered.

YGO-GX YGO-GX YGO-GX

Zane felt drained and barren when he opened his eyes to find himself tied to a chair in an even more barren room. Only a single light bulb dangled from the ceiling.

His mind was blank. He couldn't remember a thing. He couldn't recall anything.

"Ah, you're awake," a voice off to his left said.

Zane glanced over. A hooded figure seemed to materialize from the depths of the corner.

It was Dark-Wing.

He knew it was.

But how?

"Making an attempt to go down memory lane, are we?" Dark-Wing asked, amused at the internal struggle obviously taking place in his head.

Zane squinted, blinking harshly, but did not respond.

Dark-Wing went around to stand behind him. "Now, before I can untie you, you need to answer a few questions."

Zane nodded mechanically.

"Who do you serve?"

"The darkness."

The answer slipped through his lips without hesitation, but something in the back of his mind protested.

"And who is the darkness?"

"The Shadow Riders."

Again, Zane felt a tug in his mind, objecting to his answers.

It was a struggle to suppress it. But the real question was, why was he trying to suppress it?

"Good," Dark-Wing was beaming. "Excellent"

And he bean to untie the rope wrapped around his wrists.

Zane breathed deeply. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

"Time to join dear Alexis, now," Dark-Wing said.

Alexis.

A sharp pain darted through his memories. Or what was left of them. Shimmering blonde hair. Bright brown eyes. A beautiful girl smiled vibrantly in his recollection. She was light in an abyss of darkness. But then it was gone in a flash.

He knew her. He knew Alexis. And the twinge in his heart told him she meant more to him than he would have liked.

"Come along," Dark-Wing directed him out of the forlorn room and into a dark hallway, which eventually led to an arena.

A sudden deluge of memories filled his head. Him. Alexis. Dark-Wing. A duel. Obelisk the Tormentor.

It hurt Zane to the point of tears.

He grimaced, holding his head between his hands, endeavoring to keep his mind at bay.

Dark-Wing watched Zane carefully. "Déjà vu, Truesdale?"

Zane shook his head, willing the ache to stop.

The doors on the other side of the arena opened, and entered Vice, followed by Alexis.

She stopped right in front of him. They were barely a foot apart.

Seeing her belted his senses. She stood tall and confident, like she always did. But her eyes. They were not the way they should have been. They were completely lifeless.

But that was the way it was supposed to be…wasn't it? The darkness…it was good for them. For her.

Nevertheless, the second that thought crossed his mind, doubt followed.

Dark-Wing smirked. "Now let's reunite you two with your friends, shall we?"

(A/N): It's been AGES, hasn't it? Hopefully, some of you are still interested in this story…(crosses fingers).